Tracker for mechanical musical instruments.



,No. 779,867. PATENTED JAN. 10., 1905. R. W. PAIN. TRACKER FORMECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT.13, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

i w m. 24% f/ Q No. 779,867. PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

R. W. PAIN.

TRAGKER FOR MECHANICAL MUSIGALINSTRUMENTS.

APPLIOATION FILED OUT. 13, 1903.

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HIIIIHI 763%260660/ a fiuZerZZfljaz'z; 25;... w. M il 5m UNITED STATESPatented January 10, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT W. PAIN, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE AEOLIAN COM- PANY,OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

TRACKER FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 779,867, dated January10, 1905.

i Application filed October 13, 1903. Serial No. 176,891.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT IV. PAIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York city, in the county of New York and, State of NewYork, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trackers forMechanical Musical Instruments, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in tracker arrangements formechanical musical instruments or musical-instrument players, and hasfor its object to provide a plurality of independently-usable trackerswhereby, for example, musicsheets having perforations arranged ondifferent scales to the transverse inch may be utilized in the sameinstrument. Music-sheets of the same Width are, some of them, providedwith note perforations on a scale of six to a transverse inch and otherson a scale of eight to a transverse inch, requiring trackers havingducts arranged upon corresponding scales. By my invention provision ismade whereby music-sheets with perforations arranged on different scalesmay be utilized in the same instrument.

My invention consists in the features hereinafter described and then setforth in the clauses of the claim appended to the specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation illustratingmy invention. Fig. 2 is a detail showing a different arrangement ofmeans for moving the trackers into andout of operative position. Fig. 3is a front elevation, and Fig. 4 is a rear elevation, of the arrangementshown in Fig. 1.

In the said drawings, in which the preferred or best-known embodiment ofmy invention is illustrated, the reference-numeral 1 designates a partof the casing of the instrument, 2 and 3 music-sheet rolls, and 4 asheet of music arranged thereon. These parts may be of the usual or anysuitable construction and arrangement. Mounted in position to enablethem to be brought into cooperative relation to said music-sheet are aplurality of trackers 5 6 of any known or suitable construction leadingto related mechanism (well known,and therefore not herein illustrated ordescribed) by means of tubes 7.

complish the object for which my invention is 5 more particularlydesigned are provided with ducts of different range that is say, theyhave to the inch a different number of ducts and in the illustratedexample of my invention are movably mounted on suitable guides 8,carried 5 5 by the casing or other support,,which fit into grooves 9,provided therefor in the trackers. The trackers are moved into and outof cooperative relation with the music-sheet by means of a handlesuitably pivoted in the casing and having positive connection atopposite sides of the pivotal point with said trackers, whereby uponmanipulation thereof the trackers will be moved simultaneously inopposite directions, the one into operative position and the other outof such position. In Fig. l of the drawings the handle is designated bythe reference-numeral 12, (shown pivoted at 12) to which handle a gear11 is connected, and the tracker-boards are provided with racks 10, withwhich the gear meshes, thus affording a positive connection of theoperatinghandle at opposite sides of its center of movement with thetracker-board. In Fig. 2 of the drawings the handle is designated by thereference-numeral 13 and the pivotal point thereof by thereference-mimeral 13". This handle is provided at opposite points of itspath.

or center of movement with elongated slots 14:, taking over pins 14:,connected to the trackerboards, and its operation is the same as thatreferred to in connection with the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

The numeral 15 designates a shield to close the ducts of that trackerwhich for the time 5 being is out of operation. In the drawings thisshield is a pivoted one and is made up of a skeleton frame 16, inclosedin a suitable fabric 17, such as rubber-cloth or leather. The pivots 18for the shield are shown as con- 9 sisting of extensions of one part ofthe skeleton frame arranged in suitable sockets in the casing or othersupport. This shield may be manipulated in any suitable way for example,by the operator shifting it with his hand or by a handle 19, connectedwith its pivot. In the arrangement shown In the drawings Said trackersto 210- 1 by reason of the preferred but not essential inclined positionof the trackers said shield is in part automatic in its action that isto say, when the uppermost of the plurality of trackers is projectedinto'cooperative relation with the music-sheet and the other thereofwithdrawn from such relation the shield will automatically swing intoposition to close the ducts of the withdrawn tracker.

The plurality of trackers is particularly intended, as hereinbefore setforth, to enable music-sheets having note perforations arranged ondifferent scales, as explained, to be utilized in the same instrument;but the invention is not restricted to such purpose or use of theplurality of trackers, as other advantageous uses therefor may presentthemselves.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim is 1. In an instrumentof the character referred to, a plurality of movable trackers, and

said trackers at opposite sides of its pivotal point whereby saidtrackers are simultaneously actuated, the one being brought intooperative position and the other moved out of operative position.

2. In an instrument of the character referred to, a plurality of movabletrackers, provided with racks, and a gear meshing with said racks.

3. In an instrument of the character referred to, a plurality of movabletrackers provided with racks, a gear meshing with said racks wherebysaid trackers may be moved into, and out of, operative position, and ashield for closing the ducts of said trackers when not in operativeposition.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing \vitnesses.

ROBERT WV. PAIN.

\Vitn esses:

\V. C. MANsFInLo, E. (J. TnonrsoN.

